APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A man has been charged with violating the state’s “Safer at Home” order after being arrested for allegedly meeting who he believed to be a minor for sex, but was actually a police officer.
Matthew Wieting, 34, of Brillion, was charged with using a computer to facilitate a sex crime, soliciting an intimate representation from a minor, and violating a health order.
An officer was online undercover as a 15-year-old girl and had contact with Wieting for about a month. A meeting was arranged in Kimberly, and he was arrested Tuesday afternoon, Stahmann said. Charges were filed Wednesday.
According to the criminal complaint, Wieting planned to meet the girl at her house Tuesday morning for sex. He admitted to police why he was there.
Fox Valley Metro Police Officer Brandon Stahmann the state’s order is another tool law enforcement can use.
“Our stance at Fox Valley Metro is if someone is going to come into our community and perpetrate on our children, we believe that is non-essential travel and is a violation of the “Safer at Home” order and they’ll be charged with that,” Stahmann said.
If convicted of violating the public health order, Wieting faces up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
An initial court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
